Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)
Cell-surface oncofetal glycoprotein mediating intercellular adhesion, expressed in fetal gut and reactivated in colorectal and epithelial tumors.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference Rangesng/mL
Standard reference intervals represent the statistical 95% distribution of unselected commercial populations. Optimal longevity targets reflect clinical evidence for lowest cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality risk.
Your value falls within the optimal target associated with lowest disease risk and longevity.
<3.0 ng/mL (non-smoker), <5.0 ng/mL (smoker)
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
<2.0 ng/mL
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
Overexpression in adenocarcinomas promotes metastatic seeding by binding selectins on vascular endothelium.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (CEA High)
- •Colorectal adenocarcinoma recurrence / metastasis
- •Pancreatic, gastric, and breast carcinoma
- •Active inflammatory bowel disease flare
- •Heavy cigarette smoking
Low Levels (CEA Low)
- •Complete post-surgical oncological remission
- •Healthy adult baseline (<2.0 ng/mL)
Technical Reference & Deep Dive
Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
Pre-Analytical Caveats & Diagnostic Workup
Pre-Analytical Considerations:
Specimen collection should follow standardized phlebotomy protocols. Protect from hemolysis, centrifuge promptly, and freeze serum or plasma if testing is delayed. Patient should be in a resting, fasting state where indicated.
Reflexive Testing Protocol:
- Confirmatory testing and secondary biomarker quantification for CEA
- Targeted organ system imaging or functional dynamic testing related to oncofetal glycoprotein & gi surveillance
- Comprehensive baseline metabolic, renal, and inflammatory assessment (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
- [1]Clinical Reference and Molecular Physiology of Carcinoembryonic Antigen - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 34090124
- [2]CEA Dynamics in Human Longevity and Precision Medicine - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35322901
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) into overall healthspan optimization.